Waiting for a bus is an unpleasant experience as winds and driving snow hit Northeast Ohio once again.

The latest blast of snow and cold temperatures swept over the area Wednesday, making travel on the roads perilous and prompting many people to stay indoors altogether or venture out only if absolutely necessary.

It’s been that way through long stretches of a difficult winter, begging this question: Is there such a thing as cabin fever?

Kim Fraser, executive director of Lake County Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Services, pondered that question at her office in downtown Painesville.

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Fraser made it to work Wednesday, accompanied by her 10-year-old daughter, Carson, who wasn’t at school as a result of the eighth calamity day taken by Mentor Schools.

“Clinically, there is no diagnosis of cabin fever,” Fraser said.

“However, there is seasonal affective disorder, and that is something we absolutely feel the effect of in Northeast Ohio,” Fraser said.

“Folks who don’t have enough exposure to sunlight find themselves becoming more depressed and isolated when weather forces them to remain indoors. Often times, they eat more, sleep more and have less energy.”

Fraser wasn’t surprised when told that a cashier at a local grocery store reported a rush of customers Tuesday night after local TV stations and the Weather Channel started issuing dire weather forecasts.

The cashier characterized the behavior of some of the shoppers as “agitated” and “panicky.”

“We are powerless over the weather,” Fraser said. “When people feel powerless, they begin to shut down and go into panic mode.

“Prior to this storm, when we had those bitterly cold temperatures, many of us sat at home and played the ‘what if’ game,” Fraser said. “What if my furnace shuts down? What if my power goes off? What if my car doesn’t start? What if I have an emergency and can’t get out of my driveway? That creates a sense of powerlessness that often turns into anger or poor self-coping.”

The presence of Fraser’s daughter in the ADAMHS office highlighted a challenge facing many working parents with school-age children as cancellations pile up like the snow.

Fraser said she and her husband hashed out their options Wednesday morning.

“He had meetings he couldn’t miss. I had meetings I couldn’t miss,” Fraser said. “The uncertainty could create anxiety and tension for parents. We worked together to find the best balance, which meant bringing Carson into the office with me.”

The high number of calamity days can wear on the young people, too.

“The kids are used to going to school, interacting and being mentally stimulated all day,” Fraser said. “After two, three or four days of not having that interaction, they get fed up.”

Weather-related closures also have an effect on people who avail themselves of the mental-health services provided by ADAMHS and similar agencies.

“When the weather is like this, for safety reasons we have to close drop-in centers used by individuals with addictions and mental illnesses.”

Fraser identified some tried-and-true methods to work through weather-related anxiety.

“Do your best to communicate and maintain normalcy,” she said. “Find activities that engage you and your child.”

About the Author

David has been a full-time writer with The News-Herald since 1984. He writes about news, sports and entertainment, He served as president of the Television Critics Association from 1993-95. Reach the author at dglasier@News-Herald.com
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